Method for operating a vehicle

• US 7,480,562 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2004
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Kustosch, Mario
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JEN, MINGJEN
• Application Number:
  US10/896,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20050021226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,644 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/205
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/14 Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0212 with means for defining a desired trajectory involving a plurality of land vehicles G05D1/0287
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08

Abstract

A method for operating a vehicle, in which the method allows feedback about imminent risks. In this context, the vehicle moves on a predefined route at a current traveling velocity. A value characteristic of the vehicle movement along the predefined route is precalculated as a function of the current traveling velocity and the predefined route. A vehicle function is activated as a function of this value.

Claims

1. A method for operating a vehicle, which moves on a predefined route at a current traveling velocity, the method comprising:

determining a value of a current traveling velocity;

precalculating a characteristic value of the vehicle movement along the predefined route as a function of the determined value of the current traveling velocity and the predefined route, wherein, for a particular predefined route, the characteristic value varies depending on the determined value of the current traveling velocity; and

activating a vehicle function as a function of the characteristic value;

wherein the vehicle function includes at least one of;

a safety function;

an occupant protection function including one of a precharging of a brake system and a conditioning of at least one restraint system;

a driver-information function including providing of feedback regarding a forthcoming critical curve, the feedback being implemented in a haptic manner and at an accelerator pedal; and

a vehicle operation function including one of optimizing fuel consumption and optimizing exhaust gas.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a yaw rate is selected as the characteristic value.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, during a calculation of the characteristic value, it is assumed that an accelerator pedal of the vehicle is not being operated.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the route of the vehicle is predetermined as a set of route points, and the path between the route points is interpolated with continuous functions and differentiable functions.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the route of the vehicle is predetermined by a navigation system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic value is determined as a function of a steering angel, and the steering angle is determined as a function of a traveling direction vector and a vector tangent to the traveling direction.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the traveling direction vector is ascertained as a function of a radian measure of the predefined route, and the radian measure is ascertained from a range of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the range of the vehicle is ascertained as a function of a vehicle acceleration, and the vehicle acceleration is ascertained with a pulling-force equation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the safety function includes an accident-prevention function.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the accident-prevention function includes a limiting of the traveling speed.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle function includes the occupant protection function including the precharging of the brake system.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle function includes the driver-information function including the providing of feedback regarding a forthcoming critical curve.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle function includes the vehicle operation including the one of the optimizing of fuel consumption and the optimizing of exhaust gas.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the one of the optimizing of fuel consumption includes a providing of feedback relating to the fuel consumption and the optimizing of exhaust gas includes a providing of feedback relating to the exhaust gas.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the feedback is implemented in a haptic manner.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the feedback is implemented at the accelerator pedal.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic value varies depending on the predefined route even where a currently traveled route does not deviate from the predefined route.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein whether or not the vehicle function is activated depends upon the precalculated characteristic value.